A Columbia man who eluded police for eight years pleaded guilty Friday to sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl.

Blaine E. Smith, 37, admitted to Lancaster County Court Judge Jeffery Wright that he committed various sex acts on the child in 2002.

Smith, who apologized for any "inconvenience" he may have caused, will remain free on bail pending sentencing at a later date.

He, defense attorney Jeff Conrad and Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield all told the judge they will make statements at the time of sentencing.

However, Smith can expect to receive a negotiated sentence of 8 to 16 years in prison, plus 5 years' probation, in return for his guilty plea.

The charges against Smith included corruption of minors, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse on a child, indecent assault and solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse on a child.

Sentencing was postponed so Smith can be evaluated by a psychologist to determine if he's a sexually violent predator.

According to earlier newspaper accounts, Smith fled Columbia in 2002 after he was charged with the sex assault.

Local, state and federal law enforcement officers were searching for Smith for years.

When residents of Columbia learned that Smith's case was about to be featured on the television show "America's Most Wanted," police received a tip that Smith was living in suburban Chicago.

He was arrested that day, waived extradition and returned to Lancaster County.

• Also on Friday, the mother of a teenage boy who was sexually assaulted told Judge Wright that her son's recovery has "been a long road."

Her son, assaulted three years ago by a family friend, went through periods of anger, fear, crying and disgust as he tried to cope with what happened, she said.

"I lost a part of my childhood," the victim wrote in a letter read in open court by the boy's mother.

"I was scared and trusted no one. I didn't have a safe place to be," the victim wrote, " … because all my fears were there."

The assailant, Steven C. Bisking, 30, of Mountville, was sentenced to two to four years in state prison for aggravated indecent assault on a child.

For an additional charge of corruption of minors, Bisking was given five years' concurrent probation.

"I regret what happened," Bisking told the judge, explaining that he found it "easier to connect with somebody younger."

Bisking, who pleaded guilty to the charges in May, also was ordered to register with the state police as a sex offender.

• Another man, James A. Lewis Jr., 29, Denver, was sentenced for sexually assaulting a young girl.

Lewis was sentenced to time served (almost eight months) to 23 months in prison, plus four years' probation, for indecently assaulting the child.

For corruption of minors, Lewis was given five years' probation and ordered to have no contact with the victim and register as a sex offender with the state police.

For an unrelated charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants, Lewis was sentenced to 48 hours to 6 months in prison and fined $535.

"I cannot be more sorry than I am," Lewis told the judge, apologizing to the victim and her family.

jkelley@lnpnews.com